Anchored on the Institute’s mandate, DA-PhilRice continues to ensure that gender and development (GAD) is integrated in its new strategic plan to be implemented from 2023 to 2028.
Projects under the new programs are evaluated through a checklist determining whether these are gender-sensitive and responsive. Implementers also ensure that harmonized GAD guidelines, which provide a framework for project development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation are followed.
In a study conducted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), results show that women’s “full participation” in agriculture is limited despite its “increasing roles in rice-farming activities.”
PCAF said that women are more engaged than men in capital and seed sourcing, transplanting, palay drying, milling, and marketing.
Dr. Diadem G. Esmero, GAD Focal Point System-Technical Working Group Focal Person, said that program planning for the next five years was guided by the Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality.
She also said that inclusivity is included in the Institute’s core values and attributes, ensuring that all stakeholders are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender, age, or abilities.
“Inclusivity also drives us to value diversity of origins, perspectives, beliefs, and sociocultural contexts while creating equitable access and opportunities that fit capacities, roles, and needs,” she said.
Inclusivity in the Institute’s operations is evidenced in the increase of budget attribution from a mere 5.35% in 2017 to 38.63% in 2021.
Late last year, DA-PhilRice GAD was awarded as one of the five recipients of the 2022 Government Best Practice Recognition (GBPR) by the Development Academy of the Philippines among 219 entries.
Among its best mainstreaming practices include the creation and localization of a GAD Focal Point System, and training of staff in ensuring that DA-PhilRice products, research, and extension services are gender-sensitive and responsive. DA-PhilRice also shared its GAD practices to the city government of San Jose, Nueva Ecija and National Irrigation Administration in Region 3.